Enhancement of chemiluminescent assays

ABSTRACT

Chemiluminescent bioassays for the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample use 1,2-dioxetanes as substrates for the enzyme of an enzyme complex that bind to the analyte. The chemiluminescence obtained from the decomposition of the dioxetane triggered by the enzyme through the formation of the corresponding 1,2-dioxetane oxyanion of the enzyme complex is enhanced by the addition of TBQ as an enhancement agent. Other polymeric quaternary onium salts can be used as enhancement agents in conjunction with enhancement additives which improve the ability of the enhancement agent to form hydrophobic regions in the aqueous sample, in which regions the 1,2-dioxetane oxyanion and its chemiluminescent decomposition products can be sequestered. A kit for performing such assays is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/588,260 filed on Jan. 18, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,154; which is a Continuation application of Ser. No. 08/031,471 filed on Mar. 15, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,836 which application Ser. No. 08/031,471; now U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,836 is in turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/806,928, filed Dec. 12, 1991 now U.S. application No. 5,330,900 itself a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/574,786, filed Aug. 30, 1990 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,960. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,960 is incorporated herein by reference. Application Ser. No. 08/031,471; now U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,836 is also in turn a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/959,531, filed Oct. 13, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,907, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated hereby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to the enhancement of chemiluminescent assays for analytes in a sample, generally a biological sample, based on the use of 1,2-dioxetanes as chemiluminescent substrates for enzyme-labeled targets or probes. The chemiluminescence of the dioxetane reporter molecule can be enhanced by the addition of a water-soluble quaternary polymer. Further enhancement can be achieved by additionally including in the sample an additive which improves the ability of the water-soluble quaternary polymer to sequester the dioxetane within hydrophobic regions formed by the water-soluble polymer thereby suppressing or avoiding water-induced light quenching reactions.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART

Chemiluminescent assays for the detection of the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample, generally a biological sample, have received increasing attention in recent years as a fast, sensitive and easily read method of conducting bioassays. In such assays, a chemiluminescent compound is used as a reporter molecule, the reporter molecule chemiluminescing in response to the presence or the absence of the suspected analyte.

A wide variety of chemiluminescent compounds have been identified for use as reporter molecules. One class of compounds receiving particular attention is the 1,2-dioxetanes. 1,2-dioxetanes can be stabilized by the addition of a stabilizing group to at least one of the carbon molecules of the dioxetane ring. An exemplary stabilizing group is spiro-bound adamantane. Such dioxetanes can be further substituted at the other carbon position with an aryl moiety, preferably phenyl or naphthyl, the aryl moiety being substituted by an oxygen which is in turn bound to an enzyme-labile group. When contacted by an enzyme capable of cleaving the labile group, the oxyanion of the dioxetane is formed, leading to decomposition of the dioxetane and spontaneous chemiluminescence. A wide variety of such dioxetanes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,960. That patent focuses on dioxetanes which bear a substituent on the adamantyl-stabilizing group, such as halo substituents, alkyl groups, alkoxy groups and the like. Such dioxetanes represent an advance over earlier-recognized dioxetanes, such as 3-(4-methoxyspiro[1,2-dioxetane-3,2'-tricyclo]-3.3.1.1³,7 ]decan]-4-yl)phenyl phosphate, and in particular, the disodium salt thereof, generally identified as AMPPD. The chlorine-substituted counterpart, which converts the stabilizing adamantyl group from a passive group which allows the decomposition reaction to go forward to an active group which gives rise to enhanced chemiluminescence signal due to faster decomposition of the dioxetane anion, greater signal-to-noise values and better sensitivity, is referred to as CSPD. Other dioxetanes, such as the phenyloxy-β-D-galactopyranoside (AMPGD) are also well known, and can be used as reporter molecules. These dioxetanes, and their preparation, do not constitute an aspect of the invention herein, per se.

Assays employing these dioxetanes can include conventional assays, such as Southern, Northern and Western blot assays, DNA sequencing, ELISA, as well as other liquid phase and mixed phase assays. In general, the assay consists of binding the target, if present in the sample, with a complex bearing an enzyme capable of cleaving the enzyme labile group of the dioxetane. In DNA assays, the target is bound by a DNA probe with an enzyme covalently linked thereto, the probe being admixed with the sample immobilized on a membrane, to permit hybridization. Thereafter, excess enzyme complex is removed, and dioxetane added to the hybridized sample. If hybridization has occurred, the dioxetane will be triggered by the bound enzyme, leading to decomposition of the dioxetane, and chemiluminescence. In liquid phase assays, the enzyme is frequently conjugated or complexed with an antibody responsive to the target analyte, unbound complex being removed, and the dioxetane added, chemiluminescence being produced by the decomposition of the dioxetane triggered by the amount of enzyme present. In cases where the enzyme itself is the target analyte, the dioxetane need only be added to the sample. Again, a wide variety of assay modalities has been developed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,960, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,614.

It has been well known that light-quenching reactions will occur if the dioxetane decomposition goes forward in a protic solvent, such as water. As the samples suspected of containing or lacking the analyte in question are generally biological samples, these assays generally take place in an aqueous environment. The light-quenching reactions therefor may substantially reduce the chemiluminescence actually observed from the decomposition of the dioxetane. In assays involving low-level detections of particular analytes, such as nucleic acids, viral antibodies and other proteins, particularly those prepared in solution or in solution-solid phase systems, the reduced chemiluminescence observed, coupled with unavoidable background signals, may reduce the sensitivity of the assay such that extremely low levels cannot be detected. One method of addressing this problem is the addition of water-soluble macromolecules, which may include both natural and synthetic molecules, as is disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,772. The disclosure of this patent is incorporated herein, by reference. To similar effect, U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,614 addresses the addition of various water-soluble "enhancement" agents to the sample, although the patent speaks to the problem of suppressing non-specific binding in solid state assays. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,960, preferred water-soluble polymeric quaternary ammonium salts such as poly(vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride) (TMQ) poly(vinyl-benzyltributylammonium chloride) (TBQ) and poly(vinylbenzyl-dimethylbenzylammonium chloride) (BDMQ) are identified as water-soluble polymeric quaternary ammonium salts which enhance chemiluminescence by the suppression of non-specific binding.

Notwithstanding the advances in technology addressed by these assays, it remains a goal of the industry to provide chemiluminescent assays of greater sensitivity, to determine the presence, concentration or both of an analyte in a sample which is generally biological, and therefor, in an assay in an aqueous environment. 1,2-dioxetane compounds have already been developed which show excellent potential as reporter molecules for such chemiluminescent assays. To be used in extremely low-level detection, however, and/or to improve reliability to provide for machine readability, it is necessary to further improve the enhancement of the chemiluminescence of the 1,2-dioxetane molecules produced in aqueous preparations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicants' invention addresses the above goals in two embodiments. As noted above, it has been previously recognized that the addition of water-soluble polymeric ammonium salts to the aqueous sample improves or enhances chemiluminescence of 1,2-dioxetanes. Applicants have discovered that this enhancement is achieved, at least in part, through the formation of hydrophobic regions in which the dioxetane oxyanion is sequestered. Decomposition in these hydrophobic regions enhances chemiluminescence, because water-based light quenching reactions are suppressed. Among the recognized water-soluble quaternary polymer salts employed, TBQ provides unexpectedly superior enhancement, through this hydrophobic region-forming mechanism.

The chemiluminescent enhancement achieved by the addition of water-soluble polymeric quaternary polymer salts can be further improved by the inclusion, in the aqueous sample, of an additive, which improves the ability of the quaternary polymeric salt to sequester the dioxetane oxyanion and the resulting excited state emitter reporting molecule in a hydrophobic region. Thus, the combination of the polymeric quaternary salt and the additive, together, produce an increase in enhancement far beyond that produced separately by the addition of the polymeric quaternary salt, or the additive, which, when a surfactant or water-soluble polymer itself, may enhance chemiluminescence to a limited degree. The synergistic combination of the polymeric quaternary salt and additives gives enhancement effects making low-level, reliable detection possible even in aqueous samples through the use of 1,2-dioxetanes. The polymeric quaternary salts, coupled with the additives, are sufficiently powerful enhancers to show dramatic 4 and 5-fold increases at levels below 0.005 percent down to 0.001 percent. Increased signal, and improved signal/noise ratios are achieved by the addition of further amounts of the polymeric quaternary salt, the additive, or both, in amounts up to as large as 50 percent or more. In general, levels for both polymeric quaternary salt and additive can be preferably within the range of 0.05-25 percent, more preferably from 0.1-15 percent by weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a comparison of signal to noise levels for various enhancement additives and mixtures of enhancement additives.

FIG. 2 shows the background kinetics of CSPD in combination with a mixture of Zelec and TBQ enhancement additives.

FIG. 3 shows the chemiluminescence produced using a combination of CSPD and a mixture of Zelec and TBQ as enhancement additives.

FIG. 4 shows the signal to noise ratio for CSPD in combination with a mixture of Zelec and TBQ as enhancement additives.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The assays and kits of this invention employ water-soluble chemiluminescent 1,2-dioxetanes. As noted above, these dioxetanes are well established in the art, and their identity and preparation does not constitute a novel aspect of this invention, per se. In general, any chemiluminescent dioxetane which exhibits sufficient stability in water to conduct the assay, and which may be caused to decompose and chemiluminesce by interaction with an enzyme, and cleavage, by the enzyme, of an enzyme labile group inducing the decomposition, can be used in connection with this invention. Typically, the 1,2-dioxetanes useful in this invention will have the general formula: ##STR1## R¹ is C₁ -C₂ alkyl or C₁₋₁₂ aryl or aralkyl; Y is phenyl or naphthyl;

R² is meta-substituted or non-conjugated on Y with respect to the dioxetane, and is OX, wherein;

X is an enzyme cleavable group which, when cleaved, leaves the dioxetane phenoxy or naphthoxy anion;

Z═H, Cl, other halogens, or alkoxy groups.

Preferred dioxetanes include AMPPD, and in particular, its disodium salt, as well as CSPD and its disodium salt. Methods of preparing these dioxetanes are disclosed in the aforereferenced commonly-assigned patents, as well as, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,162, assigned to Wayne State University. The preparation, purification and isolation of the dioxetanes does not constitute a novel aspect of the invention disclosed and claimed herein per se.

The dioxetane is added to the sample which has been mixed with an enzyme complex which will bind to or otherwise co-act with the target analyte, if present in the sample. The dioxetane is therefore the substrate for the enzyme, the enzyme-catalyzed cleavage of the labile groups of the substrate from the body of the dioxetane resulting in the unstable oxyanion, and subsequent decomposition of the dioxetane. Where the target analyte is the enzyme itself, the dioxetane is added directly to the sample, either as drawn, or after preliminary purification to reduce turbidity. Where the target analyte is other than the trigger enzyme, the enzyme is complexed with a binding moiety, such as DNA probe or antibody, so as to bind to any target analyte present in the sample. The amount of chemiluminescence detected will be responsive both to the analyte in the sample, and the amount of analyte in the sample.

To enhance the chemiluminescent signal, and improve signal/noise ratio to permit discrimination between background signals and positive target-responsive signals at very low levels, a water-soluble enhancement agent is added to the sample prior or concomitant with the introduction of the dioxetane.

The enhancement agents of this invention, are based, in general, on polymeric onium salts, particularly quaternary salts based on phosphonium, sulfonium and, preferably, ammonium moieties. The polymers have the general formula I shown below: ##STR2##

In this formula each of R¹, R² and R³ can be a straight or branched chain unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive, e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, hexyl, or the like; a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with one or more hydroxy, alkoxy, e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, benzyloxy or polyoxethylethoxy, aryloxy, e.g., phenoxy, amino or substituted amino, e.g., methylamino, amido, e.g., acetamido or ureido, e.g., phenyl ureido; or fluoroalkane or fluoroaryl, e.g., heptafluorobutyl, groups, an unsubstituted monocycloalkyl group having from 3 to 12 carbon ring carbon atoms, inclusive, e.g., cyclohexyl or cyclooctyl, a substituted monocycloalkyl group having from 3 to 12 ring carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with one or more alkyl, alkoxy or fused benzo groups, e.g., methoxycyclohexyl or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, a polycycloalkyl group having 2 or more fused rings, each having from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, inclusive, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl, alkoxy or aryl groups, e.g., 1-adamantyl or 3-phenyl-1-adamantyl, an aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group having at least one ring and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in toto, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl, aryl, fluorine or hydroxy groups, e.g., phenyl, naphthyl, pentafluorophenyl, ethylphenyl, benzyl, hydroxybenzyl, phenylbenzyl or dehydroabietyl; at least two of R₁, R₂ and R₃, together with the quaternary nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, can form a saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or substituted nitrogen-containing, nitrogen and oxygen-containing or nitrogen and sulfur-containing ring having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, inclusive, and 1 to 3 heteroatoms, inclusive, and which may be benzoannulated, e.g., 1-pyridinium, 1-(3-alkyl or aralkyl)imidazolium, morpholino, alkyl morpholinium, alkylpiperidinium, N-acylpiperidinium, piperidino or acylpiperidino, benzoxazolium, benzthiazolium or benzamidazolium.

The symbol X represents a counterion which can include, alone or in combination, moieties such as halide, i.e., fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide, sulfate, alkylsulfonate, e.g., methylsulfonate, arylsulfonate, e.g., p-toluenesulfonate, substituted arylsulfonate, e.g., anilinonaphthylenesulfonate (various isomers), diphenylanthracenesulfonate, perchlorate, alkanoate, e.g., acetate, arylcarboxylate, e.g., fluorescein or fluorescein derivatives, benzoheterocyclic arylcarboxylate, e.g., 7-diethylamino-4-cyanocoumarin-3-carboxylate, organic dianions such as p-terephthalate may also be represented by X.

The symbol n represents a number such that the molecular weight of such poly(vinylbenzyl quaternary ammonium salts) will range from about 500 to about 500,000 (weight average), and preferably from about 20,000 to about 70,000, as determined by intrinsic viscosity or LALLS techniques.

Methods for the preparation of these polymers, related copolymers and the related starting materials where M is nitrogen are disclosed in G. D. Jones et al, Journal of Polymer Science, 25, 201, 1958; in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,780,604; 3,178,396; 3,770,439; 4,308,335; 4,340,522; 4,424,326 and German Offenlegunsschrift 2,447,611.

The symbol M may also represent phosphorous or sulfur whereupon the corresponding sulfonium or phosphonium polymers have been described in the prior art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,236,820 and 3,065,272.

Methods of preparation of the polymers of this invention are set forth in the referenced U.S. Patents, as well as U.S. application Ser. No. 07/811,620 and do not constitute any aspect of this invention, per se.

Copolymers containing 2 or more different pendant onium groups may also be utilized in the invention described herein. ##STR3## The symbols X, M', R^(1'), R^(2'), R^(3') are as described above for X, M, R¹ --R³. The symbols Y and Z represent the mole fraction of the individual monomers comprising the copolymer. The symbols Y and Z may thus individually vary from 0.01 to 0.99, with the sum always equalling one.

As preferred moieties, M is N, and R¹ --R³ are individually, independently, alkyl, cycloalkyl, polycycloalkyl (e.g. adamantane) aralkyl or aryl, having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, unsubstituted or further substituted with hydroxyl, amino, amido, ureido groups, or combine to form via a spiro linkage to the M atom a heterocyclic (aromatic, aliphatic or mixed, optionally including other N, S or O heteroatoms) onium moiety.

Applicants have discovered that poly(vinylbenzyltributylammonium chloride), alone, gives unpredictably superior enhancement in combination with a chemiluminescent assay based on the use of a 1,2-dioxetane reporter molecule, as described above. In point of fact, the improvement in chemiluminescent signal obtained by the addition of TBQ, alone, was generally on the order of at least twice the improvement obtained through addition of the next best enhancement agent, BDMQ. For completeness, TBQ was also evaluated, alone, versus cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, another art recognized enhancement agent.

Evaluation of TBQ Alone as an Enhancement Agent

Protocol for the evaluation of various enhancers

The enhancer samples were prepared from stock solutions in a 0.1 M diethanolamine, 1 mM MgCl₂, pH 9.5 buffer. CSPD or AMPPD was added to 0.5 ml of an enhancer solution (final dioxetane concentration, 0.4 mM). The background was recorded at room temperature in a Berthold 952T luminometer 10 and 60 minutes after the dioxetane addition. Subsequently, alkaline phosphatase was added (final enzyme concentration, 9.35×10⁻¹⁴ M), and the chemiluminescent signal was measured at 10, 30 and 60 (not for all samples) minutes as a 5 sec. integral.

All buffers contained 1 mM MgCl₂.

**The half-time to plateau was determined as follows: 0.4 mM AMPPD in the desired buffer was preincubated at 37° C. or 30° C. and alkaline phosphatase was then added to each tube (final concentration 4.1×10⁻¹³ M). The tube was inserted into a Turner model 20-E Luminometer and the half-time to steady state light emission was calculated.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         HALF-LIFE OF AMPPD                                                              Effect of CTAB, TBQ, BDMQ, pH and Temperature                                         Half-Time to Plateau**                                                 pH      Buffer alone                                                                             + CTAB     + TBQ + BDMQ                                      ______________________________________                                         30° C., 0.1M Sodium Carbonate                                             9.0       3.66      17.5     3.48  4.50                                        9.6 2.07 9.8 2.79 2.62                                                         10.0 1.62 7.4 2.17 2.15                                                      30° C., 0.75M Sodium Carbonate                                            9.0       4.19      33.5     6.03  4.84                                        9.6 2.12 19.3 4.15 2.82                                                        10.0 1.67 13.3 2.84 2.27                                                     37° C., 0.1M Sodium Carbonate                                             9.0       2.37      10.1     2.53  2.52                                        9.6 1.34 5.36 1.65 1.48                                                        10.0 1.06 4.06 1.29 1.28                                                     37° C., 0.75M Sodium Carbonate                                            9.0       2.37      22.0     3.33  2.81                                        9.6 1.29 9.6 2.29 1.62                                                         10.0 0.95 6.5 1.61 1.33                                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF AMPPD                                                       SIGNAL AND BACKGROUND                                                          Effect of CTAB, TBQ, BDMQ, pH and Temperature                                ______________________________________                                         30° C., 0.1 M Sodium Carbonate                                                Buffer Alone     Plus CTAB                                                            Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  2.0     55.6 (31.6)                                                                               27.7 1.7   175.9 (93.0)                                                                            105.9                                9.6 2.0 50.7 (12.5) 25.0 1.6 114.1 (61.5) 69.6                                 10.0 2.0 30.3 (10.8) 15.5 1.6  61.2 (42.4) 37.3                              ______________________________________                                         Plus TBQ           Plus BDMQ                                                                Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  2.7     1110.8 (22.0)                                                                             405.4                                                                               2.4   875.0 (32.0)                                                                            372.3                                9.6 3.8 1106.3 (33.8) 294.9 2.1 559.0 (15.0) 267.4                             10.0 2.4  671.2 (18.0) 263.2 2.3 282.8 (14.3) 123.0                          ______________________________________                                         30° C., 0.75 M Sodium Carbonate                                              Buffer Alone      Plus CTAB                                                            Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  1.9     24.4 (30.7)                                                                               12.6 1.7   79.1 (88.5)                                                                             46.5                                 9.6 2.0 17.4 (15.4) 8.8 1.7 42.7 (115.3) 25.7                                  10.0 2.0 12.6 (9.8) 6.4 1.7 29.2 (80.3) 17.7                                 ______________________________________                                         Plus TBQ           Plus BDMQ                                                                Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  2.0     254.6 (43.7)                                                                              127.3                                                                               2.1   191.5 (27.0)                                                                            93.0                                 9.6 2.1 264.2 (29.7) 124.6 2.0 138.1 (18.6) 70.8                               10.0 2.1 272.8 (19.3) 128.7 2.1 117.6 (12.9) 57.1                            ______________________________________                                         37° C., 0.1 M Sodium Carbonate                                               Buffer Alone      Plus CTAB                                                            Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  4.1     70.1 (17.2)                                                                               16.9 3.4   195.5 (53.7)                                                                            57.5                                 9.6 4.2 61.6 (9.0) 14.7 3.3 132.2 (30.7) 40.1                                  10.0 4.1 41.0 (6.9) 10.0 3.3  76.6 (22.0) 23.2                               ______________________________________                                         Plus TBQ           Plus BDMQ                                                                Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  4.5     1687.4 (21.0)                                                                             371.7                                                                               4.4   900.0 (14.2)                                                                            204.5                                9.6 4.4 1379.3 (11.4) 314.2 4.6 578.3 (8.7) 125.4                              10.0 4.7  824.3 (7.8) 176.9 4.3 305.8 (6.5) 71.0                             ______________________________________                                         37° C., 0.75 M Sodium Carbonate                                              Buffer Alone      Plus CTAB                                                            Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  4.1     27.3 (14.8)                                                                               6.6  3.5   93.4 (109.5)                                                                            26.6                                 9.6 4.2 19.8 (8.2) 4.8 3.4 51.7 (56.3) 15.2                                    10.0 4.3 15.0 (5.6) 3.5 3.4 30.3 (37.1) 9.0                                  ______________________________________                                         Plus TBQ           Plus BDMQ                                                                Plus                  Plus                                           Back- Alk Phos**  Back- Alk Phos**                                             ground* TLU (time to  ground* TLU (time to                                    pH TLU max) S/N TLU max) S/N                                                 ______________________________________                                         9.0  4.2     410.7 (25.0)                                                                              97.3 4.3   293.1 (18.6)                                                                            68.8                                 9.6 4.4 416.0 (16.2) 94.8 4.3 230.8 (9.0) 53.9                                 10.0 4.2 402.2 (10.4) 95.8 4.2 173.5 (6.9) 41.4                              ______________________________________                                    

As can be seen from the foregoing enhancement analysis, TBQ offers sharp improvements in chemiluminescent enhancement, and elevated S/N, as compared with the dioxetane alone, or with other art-recognized enhancement agents. Thus, the addition to the sample of TBQ, alone, provides substantial enhancement of the chemiluminescent signal and S/N values obtained. In point of fact, Applicants have found that the addition of amounts as low as below 0.005 percent down to 0.001 percent, by weight, based on the sample volume, of TBQ results in an enhancement of the chemiluminescent signal 4-5 fold over the signal obtained from the dioxetane without any enhancer.

Addition of Enhancement Agent and Enhancement Additive

The polymeric quaternary salts that constitute the enhancement agents of this invention enhance chemiluminescence in a protic environment by forming hydrophobic regions in which the dioxetane moiety, resulting from the enzyme as the oxyanion, and the subsequently formed excited state are sequestered. By providing a hydrophobic region, light-quenching water reactions are reduced or avoided all together, resulting in an overall improvement of chemiluminescence. Applicants have discovered that use of an enhancement additive, in addition to the polymeric quaternary salt enhancement agents of the claimed invention, further enhances the observed chemiluminescent signal, and improves S/N values. The enhancement additives of the claimed invention show marked improvement, in connection with the enhancement agents, at very low levels. The addition of as much as 0.005 percent, by weight, based on the sample volume, of an enhancement additive further improves the strength of the chemiluminescent signal obtained by use of the enhancement agent, while not increasing the background levels. As with the enhancement agents, the additives can be used in amounts as high as practically useful. In general, amounts greater than 50 percent, by weight, based on the sample impede assay performance. Accordingly, inclusion of both the enhancement agent, and the enhancement additive, in amounts each of 0.005 percent, by weight, based on the sample volume, up to and including a total of 50 percent, by weight, based on the sample volume, of both, are within the scope of this invention. The total of agent and additive should not exceed 50 percent.

The function of the enhancement additive is to improve the ability of the enhancement agent to form hydrophobic regions in which the dioxetane oxyanion and the resulting emitter can be sequestered, permitting decomposition and chemiluminescence in the absence of water, and therefore, reducing light-quenching reactions caused thereby. The enhancement additives can be drawn from any of a wide variety of compounds. In general, the enhancement additives may, but need not necessarily, enhance the chemiluminescent signal obtained, although not nearly so strongly as the enhancement agents of this invention. Thus, the addition of conventional surfactants, largely detergents, improves the ability of the enhancement agent to form a hydrophobic region which is relatively stable. These surfactants may be cationic, anionic, zwitterionic or neutral. Another class of enhancement additives which when added to the solution appear to improve the ability of the enhancement agent to sequester the active dioxetane species, and in any event, lead to further enhancement of the chemiluminescent signal, include negatively charged salts. A third class of enhancement additives also active at very low concentrations are conventional solvents, including a wide variety of alcohols. Another conventional solvent, turpentine, is also useful in this role.

A fourth effective class of enhancement additives are non-quaternary water-soluble polymers, such as poly(2-ethyl-Z-oxazoline), (PolyOx). While these polymers themselves may induce limited enhancement of the chemiluminescent signal without increase in background noise, when added in conjunction with the polymeric quaternary onium salt enhancement agents of this invention, sharp improvements in the chemiluminescent signal observed are obtained.

To demonstrate the improvement obtained by the addition of an enhancement additive to the enhancement agent, buffered dioxetane solutions were provided with TBQ as well as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, a surfactant, poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and octyl-β-glucoside. The results, set forth below in Tables 3 and 4, are obtained with CSPD and enhancer compositions, as indicated.

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN TABLES

TBQ polyvinylbenzyltributylquaternary ammonium chloride

SDBS sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate

PolyOx poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), MW 500,000

OcGluc octyl-β-glucoside

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                       SDBS/TBQ                                       TBQ, mg/ml SDBS, mg/ml Noise, 10 min SIGNAL 10                                                                               ' SIGNAL 30' SIGNAL 60'                                                        S/N 10' S/N 30' S/N            __________________________________________________________________________                                                     60'                             1                                                                               0.00  0.00   248     13829                                                                                14699                                                                                14007                                                                                56  59 57                                2 2.50 0.00 342 804468 1030372 952221 2352 3013 2784                           3 1.00 0.00 369 870920 1069979 1037251 2360 2900 2811                          4 0.50 0.00 327 832661  751145  691749 1935 2297 2115                          5 2.50 0.25 391 701661 1761807 2490243 1795 4506 6369                          6 1.00 0.10 403 958822 2332784 3060310 2374 5788 7594                          7 0.50 0.05 399 577058 1410546 2000811 1446 3535 5015                          8 2.50 0.50 431 854086 2218583 3826962 1982 5148 8879                          9 1.00 0.20 418 932155 2245043 3513769 2241 5397 8447                         10 0.50 0.10 413 797925 1881389 2834250 1932 4507 6863                         11 1.00 0.30 424 752188 1908633 3161797 1774 4501 7457                         12 0.50 0.15 401 847070 2109424 3392238 2112 5260 8459                         13 1.00 0.40 575 829578 2217335 3785597 1443 3856 6584                         14 0.50 0.20 418 722581 1879004 3094497 1729 4495 7403                         15 1.00 0.50 512 886708 2310338 3885348 1732 4512 7589                         16 0.50 0.25 518 827050 2144813 3579020 1597 4141 6909                         17 0.75 0.50 492 707556 2012165 3549864 1438 4090 7215                         18 0.75 0.25 524 732565 1858120 2959898 1398 3546 5649                         19 0.75 0.10 489 859810 1968977 2895076 1758 4027 5920                         20 0.75 0.05 456 873340 1855213 2384823 1915 4068 5188                         21 0.50 0.50 254  9493  30130  56948  37  119  224                             22 0.50 0.25 531 667565 1959811 3045419 1257 3691 5735                         23 0.50 0.10 463 860156 2123923 3023727 1858 4587 6531                         24 0.50 0.05 421 863325 1873770 2390762 2051 4451 5679                       __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Polyox-Detergents                                                                                                 Noise                                          2nd    S/N S/N S/N                                                            TBO, mg/ml Run Signal 10'  Signal 30' Signal 60' 10' 30' 60'                 __________________________________________________________________________      1                                                                               0.00                             236  14796                                                                               14981                                                                               15108                                                                               63                                                                                64                                                                                64                   2 1.00    313 707879  846358  822417 2262 2704 2628                            3 0.50    290 734283  830370  797345 2532 2863 2749                            4 0.00 20 mg/ml PolyOx   297  35058  39538  39785  118  133  134                                                                          5 1.00 20                                                                    mg/ml PolyOx                                                                    589 1302110                                                                   1708716                                                                        1710707 2228                                                                   2913 2910                                                                        6 0.50 "                                                                     539 1430199                                                                    1892120                                                                        1851088 2852                                                                   3511 3432                                                                        7 0.50 "                                                                     5.0 mg/ml                                                                      OcGluc  533                                                                    672726                                                                         862412                                                                         863895 1262                                                                    1618 1621                                                                        8 0.50 "                                                                     2.5 mg/ml                                                                      OcGluc  432                                                                    894130                                                                         1013682                                                                        1047405 2070                                                                   2508 2425                                                                        9 0.50 "                                                                     1.0 mg/ml                                                                      OcGluc  597                                                                    1244639                                                                        1585255                                                                        1503840 2015                                                                   2655 2519                                                                       10 0.50 "                                                                     0.5 mg/ml                                                                      OcGluc  531                                                                    1333745                                                                        1679422                                                                        1801788 2479                                                                   3122 2988                                                                       11 0.50 1                                                                     mg/ml Tween                                                                    20 4.0 mg/ml                                                                   OcGluc  0.5                                                                    mg/ml SDBS                                                                     255  16006                                                                     45080  84321                                                                   63  177  331                                                                    12 0.50 "                                                                     2.5 mg/ml                                                                      OcGluc 0.25                                                                    mg/ml SDBS                                                                     515 669124                                                                     1676678                                                                        2761411 1299                                                                   3256 5362                                                                       13 0.50 "                                                                     1.0 mg/ml                                                                      OcGluc  0.1                                                                    mg/ml SDBS                                                                     878 965179                                                                     2072592                                                                        2826307 1099                                                                   2361 3219                                                                       14 0.50 "                                                                     0.5 mg/ml                                                                      OcGluc 0.05                                                                    mg/ml SDBS                                                                     770 916367                                                                     1815521                                                                        2278542 1190                                                                   2362 2959                                                                       15 1.00 "                                                                     0.5 mg/ml                                                                      SDBS 669                                                                       1145360                                                                        2693529                                                                        4488223 1712                                                                   4026 6678                                                                       16 1.00 "                                                                     0.25 mg/ml                                                                     SDBS 685                                                                       1087146                                                                        2341814                                                                        3439391 1587                                                                   3419 5021                                                                       17 1.00 "                                                                     0.1 mg/ml                                                                      SDBS 413                                                                       1457360                                                                        2768643                                                                        3541193 3529                                                                   6704 8574                                                                       18 1.00 "                                                                     0.05 mg/ml                                                                     SDBS 453                                                                       1091917                                                                        1889501                                                                        2266804 2410                                                                   4171 5004          __________________________________________________________________________

As is clearly reflected in the foregoing results, the addition of a variety of enhancement additives to the TBQ enhancement agent, in varying amounts, substantially improves chemiluminescent signal and S/N.

Further improvements in chemiluminescent signal and S/N can be obtained by combining two or more additives.

As reflected in the foregoing results (Table 4), although polyox yields some nominal improvement in an enhanced signal, as an enhancement additive in connection with TBQ, improved results are obtained. It should be noted that these results were obtained according to the protocol set forth above with regard to the assessment of TBQ, using AMPPD as a dioxetane.

Improvements in enhancement are obtained by the addition of TBQ, alone, or in particular, together with an enhancement additive, independent of the dioxetane identity, provided the dioxetane is a chemiluminescent one of the type suitable for use as described above. Thus, TBQ is used efficaciously in connection with both CSPD and AMPPD. Further, as noted, enhancement additives can be used in connection with TBQ to further improve both signal strength, and S/N values. One particular enhancement additive giving excellent results in connection with TBQ and CSPD is available from DuPont Corporation, under the trademark "Zelec", sold as an anti-static agent. The composition of Zelec is believed to be maintained as a trade secret, that includes turpentine, N-octylalcohol, water, isopropyl alcohol, sodium acetate, sodium oleyl sulfate, and TS compound or compounds identified as NJ Trade Secret Registry Number 00850201001-5400P. The Material Safety Data Sheet for the Zelec anti-stat is identified by No. 5909PP. As set forth herein below, combinations of Zelec and TBQ, or TBQ copolymers, give substantial improvements and results. AMPPD and CSPD alone, as well as together with BDMQ as an enhancement agent, or in the alternative, Zelec without an enhancement agent, are included for purposes of comparison.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                        10 Minutes                                                                               30 Minutes                                              After Enzyme After Enzyme                                                    Dioxetane, Polymer                                                                           Noise  Signal   S/N  Signal S/N                                  ______________________________________                                         AMPPD         424    108,203  26   15,173 36                                     CSPD 281 16,350 58 16,581 59                                                   AMPPD, BDMQ (1 mg/ml) 334 148,273 444 273,770 820                              CSPD, TBQ (1 mg/ml) 431 757,552 1,758 970,097 2,251                            AMPPD, Zelec DP 529 12,596 24 26,622 50                                        (1 mg/ml)                                                                      AMPPD, Zelec DP 494 11,275 23 27,775 56                                        (2.5 mg/ml)                                                                    CSPD, Zelec DP 273 16,687 61 31,172 114                                        (2.5 mg/ml)                                                                    AMPPD, BDMQ (1 mg/ 725 363,815 502 834,997 1,152                               ml), Zelec DP (1 mg/ml)                                                        AMPPD, BDMQ (1 mg/ 900 469,637 522 1,334,310 1,483                             ml), Zelec DP (2.5 mg/ml)                                                      AMPPD, TBQ (1 mg/ml), 1,077 431,674 401 1,311,966 1,218                        Zelec DP (2.5 mg/ml)                                                           CSPD, BDMQ (1 mg/ml), 428 1,119,735 2,616 2,560,207 5,982                      Zelec DP (2.5 mg/ml)                                                           CSPD, TBQ (1 mg/ml), 508 1,563,198 3,077 3,836,680 7,553                       Zelec DP (2.5 mg/ml)                                                         ______________________________________                                          Buffer: 0.1M diethanolamine, 1 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 9.5                           Dioxetane concentration: 0.4 mM                                                Alkaline phosphatase concentration: 9.35 × 10.sup.-14 M                  Luminometer: Berthold 952T                                                     Data: 5 second RLU                                                       

Combinations of Enhancement Agent and Enhancement Additive

As noted previously, TBQ, alone, gives impressive improvements in observed chemiluminescence. TBQ in conjunction with an enhancement additive which improves the ability of TBQ to form hydrophobic regions in which chemiluminescent dioxetane species are sequestered further improves both chemiluminescent signal enhancement, and S/N ratio. It would of course be less desirable to improve the signal strength, if noise increased as well. The foregoing data clearly demonstrates that noise is maintained at a low level, when using commercially available dioxetanes, available from Tropix, Bedford, Mass. The improvements are far beyond those that could be expected by reason of the addition of TBQ alone, or the addition of the enhancement additive, alone, the additive occasionally having some, but generally modest, enhancement effects in the absence of the polymeric quaternary onium salt enhancement agent of the claimed invention.

To further demonstrate the improvements obtainable by using the polymeric quaternary onium salt enhancement agents of the claimed invention in combination with enhancement additives which can improve the ability of the enhancement agent to form hydrophobic regions in which chemiluminescent species are sequestered, a wide variety of combinations of enhancement agent, and one or more enhancement additives were prepared and evaluated for chemiluminescence. These enhancement agents are drawn from a wide variety of compound classes, including surfactants, negatively charged salts, conventional solvents, and water-soluble polymers. The results are reflected on the following pages.

The following method was used to evaluate various enhancer systems. Samples (0.5 ml) of each enhancer formulations were prepared from concentrated stock solutions. The buffer used was 0.1 M diethanolamine, 1 mM MgCl₂, pH 9.5. After the enhancer formulation was prepared, CSPD was added (final dioxetane concentration 0.04 mM). The background was then measured at room temperature in a Berthold 952T luminometer at approximately 10 minutes after substrate addition and at 1 hour. Next, alkaline phosphatase was added (final concentration, 9.35×10⁻¹⁴ M) and the chemiluminescent signal (5 second RLU) was measured at 10, 30 and 60 (sometimes) minutes.

    ______________________________________                                         Abbreviations used in tables                                                   ______________________________________                                         AMPA-8  aminomethylated polyacrylamide, 8% solids                                AMPA-5 aminomethylated polyacrylamide, 5% solids                               AMPA-3 aminomethylated polyacrylamide, 3% solids                               BDMCAC benzyldimethylcetyl ammonium chloride                                   BDMTDAC benzyldimethyltetradetyl ammonium chloride                             BDMQ poly(vinylbenzyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride)                         BDMQ/TBQ BDMQ copolymerized with TBQ                                           Benz-PEI benzylated polyethylenimine (MW 70,000)                               BOP benzotriazol-1-yloxytris-(dimethylamino)phosphonium                         hexafluorophosphate                                                           CHAPS (3-[3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-                                propanesulfonate)                                                             CHAPSO (3-[3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-                     propanesulfonate)                                                             CTAB cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide                                          DMQ-TEQ poly(vinylbenzyldimethyldodecyl ammonium chloride)                      copolymerized with poly(vinylbenzyltriethylammonium                            chloride)                                                                     HDTBPB hexadecyltributyl phosphonium bromide                                   OcGluc octyl-β-glucoside                                                  P-DMDMPC poly(1,1-dimethyl-3,5-dimethylene-piperidinium chloride)                     PEI polyethylenimine                                                    PEO poly(ethylene oxide) MW 7,000,000)                                         PO23LE polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl ether                                         PolyOx poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)                                               PPG polypropylene glycol                                                       PTHF poly(tetrahydrofuran) (MW 250)                                            PVA polyvinyl alcohol                                                          PVEE poly(vinyl ethyl ether)                                                   PVME poly(vinyl methyl ether)                                                  SBS sodium benzyl sulfate                                                      SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate                                                     SDBS sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate                                            TBQ polyvinylbenzyltributyl ammonium chloride                                  TBQ/THQ TBQ copolymerized with poly(vinylbenzyltrihexyl                         ammonium chloride)                                                            TPP/TBQ poly(vinylbenzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride)                          copolymerized with TBQ                                                        TPP/BDMQ poly(vinylbenzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride)                         copolymerized with BDMQ                                                     ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     CSPD                                                                                                     Signal          S/N                                  Additive     Concentration                                                                          Noise                                                                               10 min                                                                              30 min                                                                               60 min                                                                              10 min                                                                             30 min                                                                             60 min                       __________________________________________________________________________     1. none              282   17417                                                                               17705      62  63                                2. BDMQ 1 mg/ml 536 369711 419173  690 782                                     3. TBQ 1 mg/ml 662 873852 1116942   1320  1687                                 4. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 508 1563198  3836680   3077  7552                      TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   5. polyvinyl alcohol 0.1 mg/ml 539 1004417  1281062   1863  2377                                                                 TBQ 1 mg/ml                  6. isopropanol 1 mg/ml 574 962628 1271409   1677  2215                          TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   7. 2-octanol 10 mg/ml 568 1036203  1362463   1822  2399                         TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   8. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 927 837481 2586843   903 1860                          SDS 1 mg/ml                                                                    TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   9. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 726 735959 2118539   1014  2918                        SDS 1 mg/ml                                                                    BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  10. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 853 594827 1586672   697 1860                         Tween-20 5 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   11. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 1129  545747 1289720   483 1142                       Tween-20 0.01 mg/ml                                                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  12. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 1112  545295 1222221   490 1099                       Tween-20 0.05 mg/ml                                                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  13. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 1338  957409 2375419   716 1775                       Tween-20 0.01 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   14. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 1097  969399 2345374   884 2138                       Tween-20 0.05 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   15. TBQ/THQ 1 mg/ml 9997  5429086 8543357   543 855                             (35 mole % THQ)                                                                CTAB 0.05 mg/ml                                                               16. isopropanol 10 mg/ml 340 435740 533074  1282  1568                          BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  17. 2-octanol 10 mg/ml 365 405753 510671  1112  1399                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  18. Zelec DP 3 μl/ml 10851  5605794 9637819   517 888                        TBQ/THQ 1 mg/ml                                                                (35 mole % THQ)                                                               19. AMPA-8 0.5 μl/ml 385 297926 400787  774 1041                             BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  20. AMPA-8 0.5 μl/ml 677 790317 1109404   1167  1639                         TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   21. AMPA-5 0.5 μl/ml 398 530827 624527  1336  1569                           BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  22. AMPA-5 0.5 μl/ml 859 1006579  1289099   1172  1501                       TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   23. AMPA-3 0.5 μl/ml 564 194022 251987  344 447                              BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  24. AMPA-3 0.5 μl/ml 796 757153 102126  951 1283                             TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   25. TPP/TBQ 2.5 mg/ml 407  9440 183054  232 450                                26. TPP/BMQ 2.5 mg/ml 361 164641 201410  456 558                               27. TBQ/THQ 1 mg/ml 4436  1501695  3853047   339 869                            Tween-20 5 mg/ml                                                              28. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 8332  6693311 10215623   803 1226                     TBQ/THO 1 mg/ml                                                                (35 mole % THO)                                                                Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                              29. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 729 138425 332143  190 456                            Tween-20 2.5 mg/ml                                                             TBQ/THQ 1 mg/ml                                                                (35 mole% THO)                                                                 CTAB 0.25 mg/ml                                                               30. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 402 633521 1675565   1576  4168                       TritonX100 0.625 mg/ml                                                         TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   31. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 381 673881 1714914   1769  4501                       Tween-80 1.25 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   32. Benz-PEI 1 mg/ml 715 616720 1770606   863 2630                             33. Lanoquat 1 mg/ml 495  56981 121737  115 246                                34. TBQ/THQ 0.5 mg/ml 1574  5084709 6077275   3230  3861                        (21 mole % THQ)                                                               35. Benz-PEI 0.5 mg/ml 504 667698 151051  1325  3006                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  36. Lanoquat 0.5 mg/ml 401 222433 359929  555 898                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  37. Benz-PEI 1 mg/ml 858 745446 1774863   869 2069                              TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   38. Lanoquat 0.5 mg/ml 570 600923 878859  1054  1542                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   39. Hipofix DDD 1 mg/ml 418 346956 402685  830 963                              BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  40. Hipofix DDD 2.5 mg/ml 1040  760173 859718  731 822                          TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   41. Hipofix DD-NF 0.5 mg/ml 343 345329 390776  1007  1139                       BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  42. Hipofix DD-NF 1 mg/ml 493 713154 854962  1447  1734                         BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  43. Hipolix 491 0.5 mg/ml 395 155086 199658  393 505                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  44. Hipofix 491 0.5 mg/ml 684 291815 366201  427 535                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   45. Aerotex M-3 2.5 mg/ml 449 197957 233053  441 519                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  46. Aerotex M-3 5 mg/ml 791 492405 527229  623 723                              TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   47. PVEE (lo mw) 1 mg/ml 568 2372633  378368  418 666                           BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  48. PVEE (lo mw) 1 mg/ml 655  730024 1151041   1115  1757                       TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   49. Polyox (mw 50K) 1 mg/ml 574 342402 422461  597 740                          BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  50. Polyox (mw 50K) 1 mg/ml 699 1284452  1587003   1838  2270                   TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   51. PVME 1.25 mg/ml 917 309446 371819  337 405                                  BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  52. PVME 1.25 mg/ml 834 663814 839470  796 1007                                 TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   53. PTHF (mw 250) 2.5 mg/ml 700 265174 352224  379 503                          BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  54. PTHF (mw 250) 0.5 mg/ml 758 634639 851396  837 1123                         TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   55. Polyox(mw 500K) 0.5 mg/ml 1699  316630 385553  453 552                      BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  56. Polyox(mw 500K) 5 mg/ml 889 628735 822133  707 925                          TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   57. PEO 1 mg/ml 670 220386 257387  329 384                                      BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  58. PEO 1 mg/ml 776 541518 695872  698 897                                      TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   59. CelquatH100 0.5 mg/ml 406 284794 353576  701 871                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  60. CelquatH100 0.5 mg/ml 719 734280 970599  1021  1350                         TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   61. Celquat L200 0.5 mg/ml 499 268280 326627  537 655                           BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  62. CelquatL200 0.5 mg/ml 969 722551 928806  746 959                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   63. CelquatSC240 0.5 mg/ml 530 317199 382101  598 721                           BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  64. CelquatSC240 1 mg/ml 804 811714 1030836  1010  1282                         TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   65. Pluronic122 0.5 mg/ml 608  47854 117319   79 193                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  66. Pluronic122 1 mg/ml 746  66584 181683   89 244                              TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   67. Pluronic123 0.5 mg/ml 648  69686 150161  106 232                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  68. Pluronic123 0.5 mg/ml 1453  178632 386930  123 266                          TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   69. Pluronic150R1 0.5 mg/ml 896 156254 173414  174 194                          BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  70. Pluronic150R1 0.5 mg/ml 1996  285940 324257  143 162                        TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   71. CHAPS 0.5 mg/ml 210  14326  42519   68 202                                 72. CHAPSO 0.5 mg/ml 218  15119  42489   69 195                                73. Zelec DP 2.25 μl/ml 638 741248 1616666   1162  2534                      CHAPS 1 mg/ml                                                                  BDMQ                                                                          74. Zelec DP 2.25 mg/ml 858 1146672  2754178   1336  3210                       CHAPS 1 mg/ml                                                                  TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   75. Zelec DP 2.25 μl/ml 555 718553 1530910   1295  2758                      CHAPSO 1 mg/ml                                                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  76. Zelec DP 2.25 mg/ml 900 1090555  2453191   1212  2726                       CHAPSO 1 mg/ml                                                                 TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   77. Polybrene 5 mg/ml 413  19740  24261   48  59                                CHAPS 5 mg/ml                                                                 78. Polybrene 5 mg/ml 2853  486059 705032  170 247                              CHAPS 5 mg/ml                                                                  BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  79. Polybrene 1 mg/ml 5982  683646 839733  114 140                              CHAPS 1 mg/ml                                                                  BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  80. Polybrene 5 mg/ml 6348  832574 1239584   131 195                            CHAPSO 5 mg/ml                                                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  81. Polybrene 0.5 mg/ml 6441  736510 897356  114 139                            CHAPSO 0.5 mg/ml                                                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  82. BenzethoniumCl 0.5 mg/ml 692  34183  81211   49 117                        83. BDMQ/TBQ 1 mg/ml 568 742480 859880  1307  1514                              (20% BDMQ)                                                                    84. BDMQ/TBQ 1 mg/ml 740  927108 1113083   1253  1504                           (10% BDMQ)                                                                    85. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 1910  899187 1768511   471 926                        BDMQ/TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                               (20% BDMQ)                                                                    86. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 8392  1057422  2177684   126 259                      BDMQ/TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                               (10% BDMQ)                                                                    87. Avitex ML 0.5 mg/ml 1051  142640 298297  136 284                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  88. Avitex ML 0.5 mg/ml 1318  466655 866897  354 658                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   89. Polyox(500K) 0.5 mg/ml 1730  862023 1239458   498 716                       CTAB 0.01 mg/ml                                                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   90. Polyox(50K) 0.5 mg/ml 952 872307 1183521   916 1243                         CTAB 0.01 mg/ml                                                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   91. Agefloc B50 0.5 mg/ml 952 872307 1183521   1961  2262                       TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   92. Agefloc B50 0.5 mg/ml 574 308582 347312  538 605                            BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  93. Agefloc A50 1 mg/ml 689 1015523  1225260   1474  1778                       TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   94. Agefloc A50 0.5 mg/ml 693 309616 355165  447 513                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   95. Agefloc A50HV 0.5 mg/ml 1265  1190551  1343823   941 1062                   TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   96. Agefloc A50HV 0.5 mg/ml 769 284170 325540  370 423                          TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   97. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 725 758078 2071149   1046  2857                              Tween-20 20 mg/ml                                                              BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  98. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 668 638270 1763156   955 2639                                Triton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                           BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  99. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 1337  1021526  2582544   764 1932                            CHAPS 1 mg/ml                                                                  BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  100. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 1476  940142 2282165   637 1546                             CHAPSO 1 mg/ml                                                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  101. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 1329  883203 2195667   665 1652                             CTAB 0.05 mg/ml                                                                BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  102. DAXAD 1 mg/ml 866 1059832  1225160   1224  1415                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   103. DAXAD 0.5 mg/ml 802 771273 833134  962 1039                                BDMQ/TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                               (20% BDMQ)                                                                    104. DAXAD 0.5 mg/ml 510 301223 351656  591 690                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  105. DextranSul 0.5 mg/ml 306  37132  39345  121 129                            BDMQ 0.1 mg/ml                                                                106. SDS 0.6 mg/ml 961 772634 2258788   804 2350                                Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   107  SDS 0.6 mg/ml 1100  867025 2581024   788 2346                              Triton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                           TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   108. SDS 0.6 mg/ml 721 592457 1575837   822 2186                                Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  109. SDS 0.6 mg/ml 697 412432 1143741   592 1641                                Triton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                           BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  110. SDBS 0.1 mg/ml 2097  957195 2016212   456 962                              Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               octyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml                                                        TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   111. SDBS 0.1 mg/ml 2276  924169 2002195   406 880                              Triton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                           octyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml                                                        TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   112. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 288  22720  56363   79 196                                  Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               CTAB 1 mg/ml                                                                   TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   113. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 291  17291  43494   59 149                                  Triton-X-100 1 mg/ml                                                           CTAB 1 mg/ml                                                                   TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   114. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 231  34158 101381  148 439                                  Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               BDMCAC 1 mg/ml                                                                 TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   115. SDBS 0.5 mg/ml 233  31723  90256  136 387                                  Triton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                           BDMCAC 1 mg/ml                                                                 TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   116. SDBS 0.1 mg/ml 878 1052025  2086077   1198  2376                           Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               CTAB 0.1 mg/ml                                                                 TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   117. SDBS 0.1 mg/ml 1009  1358360  2551569   1346  2529                         Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               CTAB 0.01 mg/ml                                                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   118. CTAB 0.1 mg/ml 412 395868 714210  961 1734                                 Triton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                           TBO 1 mg/ml                                                                   119. CTAB 0.01 mg/ml 632 727582 1089538   1151  1724                            Tnton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   120. octyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml 586 726013 836153  1239  1427                      TBO 1 mg/ml                                                                   121. Tween-20 1 mg/ml 550 371246 620097  675 1128                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   122. TritonX-100 1 mg/ml 636 329832 570539  519 897                             TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   123. CTAB 1 mg/ml 227  15217  26636   67 117                                    TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   124. Polyox(50K) 20 mg/ml 154  26179  47219  170 307                            CTAB 0.25 mg/ml                                                               125. Polyox(50K) 20 mg/ml 243 495112 723580  2037  2978                         CTAB 0.25 mg/ml                                                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   126. Polyox(50K) 20 mg/ml 607 768812 930826  1267  1533                         CTAB 0.025 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   127. Polyox(50K) 20 mg/ml 402 832297 962123  2070  2393                         CTAB 0.0025 mg/ml                                                              TBO 1 mg/ml                                                                   128. Polyox(50K) 0.5 mg/ml 391 970406 1102900   2462  2821                      TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   129. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 283  42628  77784  151 275                           CTAB 0.25 mg/ml                                                               130. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 275  36981  44021  134 160                           CTAB 0.025 mg/ml                                                              131. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 250  40563  45500  162 182                           CTAB 0.0025 mg/ml                                                             132. Polyox(500K) 1 mg/ml 397 1527695  1781760   3848  4488                     CTAB 0.05 mg/ml                                                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   133. Polyox(500K) 1 mg/ml 455 1629263  1834806   3581  4033                     CTAB 0.005 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   134. Polyox(500K) 1 mg/ml 514 1635987  1823578   3183  3548                     CTAB 0.0005 mg/ml                                                              TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   135. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 623 2505788  3072392   4022  4931                    TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   136. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 432 528833 653731 669867 1224  1513  1551                                                             BDMQ 1 mg/ml                 137. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 17614  2047964  4050329   116 230                    Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml                                                          Tween-20 0.625 mg/ml                                                           TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   138. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 562  76352 229205  136 408                           SDBS 0.5 mg/ml                                                                 CTAB 0.75 mg/ml                                                                Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   139. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 2689  474537 1267603   176 471                       SDBS 0.5 mg/ml                                                                 CTAB 0.5 mg/ml                                                                 Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   140. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 5476  675082 1535300   123 280                       SDBS 0.25 mg/ml                                                                CTAB 0.3 mg/ml                                                                 Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   141. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 729 393791 507399  540 696                           1M NaCl in DEA                                                                 TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   142. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 714 444112 545624  622 764                           0.5M NaCl in DEA                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   143. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 803 271814 311794  338 388                           1M NaCl (no DEA)                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   144. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 723 316032 342073  437 473                           0.5M NaCl (no DEA)                                                             TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   145. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 810 1255809  2567260   1550  2388                    SDBS 0.1 mg/ml                                                                 Chaps 1 mg/ml                                                                  Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   146. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 858 1529784  3035681   1783  2575                    SDBS 0.1 mg/ml                                                                 Chapso 1 mg/ml                                                                 Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   147. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 1309  1581194  3072325   1208  1674                                                                   SDBS 0.1 mg/ml                                                                 Chaps 1 mg/ml                                                                  Triton-X100 1 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                  148. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 2593  1240847  2249328   479 591                     SDBS 0.05 mg/ml                                                                Chapso 0.5 mg/ml                                                               Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   149. Polybrene 0.5 mg/ml 425 979550 1210591   2305  2848                        TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   150. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 506 1106515  1378277  2187  2724                     Polybrene 0.5 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   151. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 765 995361 1202025   1301  1571                      CHAPS 0.5 mg/ml                                                                Polybrene 0.5 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   152. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 2024  1149546  1385744   568 685                     CHAPSO 0.5 mg/ml                                                               Polybrene 0.5 mg/ml                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   153. Polybrene 0.5 mg/ml 567 1144898  1337005   2019  2358                      CHAPS 0.5 mg/ml                                                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   154. Polybrene 0.5 mg/ml 665 1240889  1442628   1866  2169                      CHAPSO 0.5 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   155. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 573 766172 942697  1337  1646                        DEA/Carb buffer 9.5                                                            TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   156. TBQ 1 mg/ml 466 320952 371408  689 797                                     DEA/Carb buffer 9.5                                                           157. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 531 1996396  2509803   3760  4727                    TBQ 0.5 mg/ml                                                                 158. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 482 1649504  2021238   3422  4193                    octyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml                                                        TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   159. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 262  35061  36818  134 141                           octyl-glucoside 5 mg/ml                                                       160. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 604 1729994  2149082   2864  3558                    phenyl-glucoslde 5 mg/ml                                                       TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   161. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 268  30705  33366  150 124                           phenyl-glucoside 5 mg/ml                                                      162. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 562 1372766  2935468   2443  5223                    octyl-glucoside 2.5 mg/ml                                                      SDBS 0.25 mg/ml                                                                Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   163. Polyox(500K) 20 mg/ml 632 1197951  2459440   1895  3892                    ph.enyl-glucoside 2.5 mg/ml                                                    SDBS 0.25 mg/ml                                                                Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   164. SDBS 0.1 mg/ml 413 1457360  2768643  3541193 3529  6704  8574                                                               Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                  165. SDBS 0.1 mg/ml 414 1353062  2649803  3601796 3268  6400  8700                                                               Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                               TBQ 0.5 mg/ml                                                                 166. SBS 1 mg/ml 318                                                          405862 478723  473862                                                          1276  1505  1490                                                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                 167. SBS 0.5 mg/ml 341 950755 1115291  1107561 2788  3271  3248                                                                  TBQ 1 mg/ml                __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________     AMPPD                                                                                                 Signal         S/N                                      Additive   Concentration                                                                         Noise                                                                               10 min                                                                              30 min                                                                              60 min                                                                              10 min                                                                             30 min                                                                             60 min                           __________________________________________________________________________     1. none           601   15434                                                                               22361     26  37                                    2. BDMQ 1 mg/ml 1021  239457 392753  250 410                                   3. TBQ 1 mg/ml 1940  529838 953548  311 819                                    4. TBQ/THQ 1 mg/ml 10112  3909328  7854723   387 777                           5. BDMCAC 0.5 mg/ml 539  19978  59936   39 118                                 6. THQ monomer 5 mg/ml 611  38535  92199   58 140                              7. Andogen 464 1 mg/ml 1019  232240 713917  253 779                            8. Andogen 464 5 mg/ml 447  19223  63303   43 214                               Triton X-100 10 mg/ml                                                         9. Andogen 464 5 mg/ml 784  49888 167538   64 214                               Triton X-100 1 mg/ml                                                          10. Andogen 464 5 mg/ml 493  32050 107977   65 219                              Tween-20 10 mg/ml                                                             11. Andogen 464 1 mg/ml 718  39265 131675   55 183                              Tween-20 1 mg/ml                                                              12. BDMTDAC 0.1 mg/ml 1213   94008 210047   78 173                              BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  13. BDMDAB 0.1 mg/ml 1366  156795 273187  115 200                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  14. Zonyl Surf. 0.1 mg/ml 1597  170683 283296  107 177                          BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  15. BDMTDAC 0.1 mg/ml 752 186443 432829  248 576                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   16. BDMDAB 0.1 mg/ml 1000  379583 717087  380 717                               TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   17. Zonyl Surf. 0.1 mg/ml 1108  393546 734506  355 663                          TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   18. octyl-glucoside 0.1 mg/ml 1474  167319 316876   35  68                      BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  19. phenyl-glucoside 0.1 mg/ml 1663  168296  31431  101 189                     BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  20. octyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml 359  16800  41762   47 116                          BDMDAB 1 mg/ml                                                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  21. octyl-glucoside 0.5 mg/ml 1000  339007 648072  339 648                      TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   22. phenyl-glucoside 0.5 mg/ml 1221  269016 545848  220 439                     TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   23. HDTBPB 0.5 mg/ml 1412   36919 102172   26  72                              24. Andogen 464 1 mg/ml 3919  223888 682817   57 174                            phenyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml                                                      25. HDTBPB 0.5 mg/ml 640  40379 124470   63 195                                 phenyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml                                                      26. Nonidet P-400 1 mg/ml 1143  112668 252316   99 221                          BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  27. Tween-80 0.5 mg/ml 844  87136 165285  103 196                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  28. PO23LE 0.1 mg/ml 1980  130369 261388   66 132                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  29. Ipegal 0.5 mg/ml 822 116303 231011  142 281                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  30. HDTBPB 0.1 mg/ml 1167   35861  90738   31  78                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  31. β-cyclodex. 0.5 mg/ml 451  46605 101249  103 224                       BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  32. FC-135 0.5 mg/ml 420  66398 133292  158 317                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  33. BOP 1 mg/ml 3327   464178 1059036   140 318                                 BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  34. PPG 1 mg/ml 803  25376 411277  316 512                                      BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  35. PEI 0.1 mg/ml 771 265606 446988  345 580                                    BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  36. P-DMDMPC 0.5 mg/ml 1031  286017 489468  277 475                             BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  37. Avitex DN 5 mg/ml 372  33046  67404   59 181                               38. Avitex DN 0.1 mg/ml 687 251317 418395  366 609                              BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  39. Avitex E 0.5 mg/ml 674 273361 442352  406 656                               BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  40. DMQ-TEQ 5 mg/ml 826 198197 445457  240 539                                 41. TBQ/THQ 1 mg/ml 20254  2910352  6446798   144 318                           (35 mole % THQ)                                                                BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  42. DMQ-TEQ 5 mg/ml 706 226048 502481  320 712                                  BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  43. TBQ/THQ 1 mg/ml 20339  2415719  5398310   119 265                           (35 mole % THQ)                                                                TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   44. DMQ-TEQ 1 mg/ml 893 370453 735995  415 824                                  TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   45. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 1916  340564 8009917   178 423                        phenyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml                                                       BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                  46. Zelec DP 2.5 μl/ml 2244  386368 1068947   172 476                        phenyl-glucoside 1 mg/ml                                                       TBQ 1 mg/ml                                                                   47. PVA 1 mg/ml 365 395636 476147  1084  1305                                   BDMQ 1 mg/ml                                                                __________________________________________________________________________

Applicants have endeavored to illustrate their invention by extensive embodiment of possible combinations. Nonetheless, it is recognized that the possible combinations are endless, and cannot be exhaustively embodied. Given the above teaching, those of ordinary skill in the art will arrive at enhancement agents and additives not specifically exemplified in the foregoing application. The examples are not intended to be limiting, and the identification of other combinations, given the foregoing disclosure, is well within the skill of those practicing this technology without undue experimentation. Such combinations are intended to be within the scope of the invention, save as expressly limited or excluded by the claims set forth below. 

We claim:
 1. A method for providing enhancement of luminescent intensity from a luminescent system, comprising:(1) contacting a 1,2-dioxetane compound with an effective amount of a luminescence enhancer compound comprising a polyonium salt and with an effective amount of a detergent; (2) inducing said 1,2-dioxetane to chemiluminesce and measuring the enhanced light intensity emitted from the system.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is conducted in a liquid solution.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said liquid solution is an aqueous solution.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said dioxetane is induced to chemiluminesce by contacting said dioxetane with an activating agent.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said dioxetane is protected by an enzyme-cleavable protective group, and said dioxetane is induced to chemiluminesce by contacting said dioxetane with an enzyme which removes said enzyme-cleavable group.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said 1,2-dioxetane is of the formula ##STR4## wherein R¹ is C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₂ aryl or aralkyl;Y is phenyl or naphthyl; R² is meta-substituted or non-conjugated on Y with respect to the dioxetane, is OX, wherein X is an enzyme cleavable group which, when cleaved, leaves the dioxetane phenoxy or naphthoxy anion and Z is H, Cl, other halogens, or a C₁₋₆ alkoxy group.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detergent is a surfactant selected from the group consisting of cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, non-ionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.
 8. A method of determining the presence or amount an analyte substance in a test sample, comprising adding to said sample a 1,2-dioxetane which is caused to chemiluminesce by contact with an active agent, a salt and a detergent,simultaneous with the addition of said dioxetane to said sample or thereafter, adding said active agent, and determining the amount of chemiluminescence emitted, wherein the amount of chemiluminescence emitted is indicative of the presence and amount of analyte in said test sample, and is greater than the amount of chemiluminescence emitted in the absence of said polyonium salt and said detergent.
 9. A method for enhancing the chemiluminescence from a molecule that is capable of being activated to generate a chemiluminescent signal which comprises:(a) providing a molecule that is capable of being activated to generate a chemiluminescent signal, wherein said molecule is a 1,2-dioxetane which is caused by an enzyme to decompose into a decomposition product which chemiluminescences, a polycationic surfactant, which polycationic surfactant is a water-soluble polyonium salt which, when added to said 1-2-dioxetane, results in the generation of greater chemiluminescence due to the composition of said 1,2-dioxetane than in the absence of said water-soluble polyonium salt, and a hydrophobic anionic enhancer which is selected from the group consisting of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium benzyl sulphate, sodium dodecyl sulphate, and mixtures thereof and (b) activating said dioxetane by causing it to decompose to generate a chemiluminescent signal.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said 1,2-dioxetane has the formula: ##STR5## Z═H, Cl, other halogens or alkoxy groups; R¹ is C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl or C₁₋₂ aryl or aralkyl;Y is phenyl or naphthyl; R² is meta-substituted or nonconjugated on Y with respect to the dioxetane, and is OX, wherein; X is an enzyme cleavable group which, when cleaved, leaves a dioxetane phenoxy or naphthoxy anion.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said polycationic surfactant is a poly(vinylbenzyl quaternary ammonium salt).
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said poly(vinylbenzyl quaternary ammonium salt) is selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylbenzyltributyl ammonium chloride)(TBQ), poly(vinylbenzyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride) (BDMQ), and mixtures thereof.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the addition of an enhancement additive selected from the group consisting of benzyldimethyldodecyl ammonium bromide (BDMDAB), benzyldimethyltetradecyl ammonium chloride (BDMTDAC), and mixtures thereof.
 14. A composition comprising a molecule that is capable of being activated to generate a chemiluminescent signal which is (a) 1,2-dioxetane that can be triggered to decompose and chemiluminesce; (b) a polycationic surfactant which is a polyonium salt, and a hydrophobic anionic enhancer selected from the group consisting of sodium benzyl sulphate, sodium dodecyl sulphate, sodium dodezylbenzensulfonate and mixtures thereof.
 15. The composition of claim 13, wherein said 1,2-dioxetane has the formula: ##STR6## Z═H, Cl, other halogens or alkoxy groups; R¹ is C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl or C₁₋₁₂ aryl or aralkyl;Y is phenyl or naphthyl; R² is meta-substituted or nonconjugated on Y with respect to the dioxetane, and is OX, wherein; X is an enzyme cleavable group which, when cleaved, leaves a dioxetane phenoxy or naphthoxy anion.
 16. The composition of claim 14, wherein said polycationic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of TBQ, BDMQ, and mixtures thereof.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the addition of an enhancement additive selected from the group consisting of benzyldimethyldodecyl ammonium bromide (BDMDAB), benzyldimethyltetradecyl ammonium chloride (BDMTDAC), and mixtures thereof. 